Miter box



C. F. MILLS Nov. 30, 1943.

MITER BO X Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Nov. 30, 1943.

C. F. MILLS MITER BOX Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E -H HHHHH HZ C. F. MILLS MITER BO X Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I125 -lli-6'. It'll 1111s.

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Nav. 30, 1943.

c. F; MILLS Nov. 30, 1943..

MITER BOX Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIIIIIIIIII (IE/Wills.

Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,335,783 MIT IER'BOX Charles Francis Mills, Port Arthur, Ontario,

Canada- 7 Application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,856

1 Claim. (01. 14389) My invention relates to improvements in mitercutting machines, an object thereof being to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described capable of universal movement within awide are.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described by means of which accurate miters may be cut over awide variety of angles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is quickly adjustable, and in which the sawcan readily be placed out of the way of the work.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is suitable for use in confined location andonto which a board of any length and width (within practicable limits)may be placed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is simple to manufacture and which willtherefore sell to the trade at a reasonable figure, which is rugged andwhich cannot easily become out of order.

With the above more important objects in view and such other minorobjects as may appear as the specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the first embodiment of my mitercutting machine with the saw-holder thereof elevated.

Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of the depth and rear wallthereof.

Figure 3 is a section approximately in the direction and between thelimits of the arrows 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective detail illustrating a portion of thejournalled post in my first embodiment and showing the rear side of theupstanding wall.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in Figure 1 but showing the saw-holder in lowered position.

Figure '7 is a plan detail viewed in the direction of and between thelimits of the arrows ll.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation as seen in the direction of and between thearrows 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a plan View of the embodiment of my invention illustratedin the foregoing figures.

Figure 11 is a perspective detail illustrating my means for releasing mydivided link from the post.

Figure 12 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of my mitercutting machine.

Figure 13 is a section on the line iii-l3 in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a section on the line i i-M in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a section on the line |5--i5 of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a section on the line Iii-l6 of Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my inventionillustrated in Figure 12 but showing the saw-holder in lowered position.

Figure 18 is a plan view of the embodiment of of my inventionillustrated in Figures 12 and 17.

Figure 19 is an end view in the direction and between the limits of thearrows l9l9 in Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a section on the line 20-26 of Figure 17.

Figure 21 is a section on the line 2 i2i of Figure 20.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the difierent figures.

Describing first the embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, it will be seen that my mitercutting machine comprises a deck I mounted on the legs 2 and boundedalong the rear edge only by the rear wall 3 which is divided in thecentre as at 4 in accordance with conventional practice.

Joumalled on a stud which projects through the aperture 5 (Figures 2 and5) is a post 5, which, in this embodiment of my invention is seen to becurved upwardly and vertically, or longitudinally slotted as at l.Extending forwardly under the deck I and integral with the post 6 isradius arm 8, the same rotating in a horizontal plane with the post.

Secured to the underside of my deck I and projecting forwardly from thefront edges 9 thereof is a notched quadrant l9 and by reference to theaccompanying Figures 7 and 8 it will be seen that I have provided atrigger it which engages the notches of the quadrant on actuation of thefinger-piece [2. From these figures it will be seen that I provide anaperture !3 in the forward end of the radius arm, in which the triggerl2 may move against the resistance of a spring l4 positioned in a recessin the radius arm. The portion I 5 connects the parts II and l2,downwardly projecting buttress l6 bearing against one end of the springM, the device a a whole being held in place by the plate I! which issuitably secured as by means of screws, to the radius arm upon eitherside of the trigger detail which I have just described.

The upper end of the post 6 will be seen to terminate in the circularbearing head l8, reference in this connection being particularlydirected to Figures 1 (or 6) and Figure 10 from which it will best beseen that a slotted link I9 is rotatably connected to the end of thepost 6.

The slot 23 in the link, separates the two parts 21 and 2| thereof forthe whole length of the link, these two parts terminating in the bearinghead 22 similar to the bearing head [8. Each of the bearing heads I8 issecured by means of one of the studs 23 to one or other of the bearingheads 22 and thus it can be seen that a slot extends all the way fromthe lower end of the post 6 to the opposite end of the link 9 for thereason later to be described.

The opposite end of the link I9 also terminates in a pair of bearingheads 24 and through these extend a pin 25 to connect, rotatably, theend of my saw-holder 26 to the link l9.

The saw holder normally extends forwardly over the deck I, beingdesigned to hold thesaw 21 in any desired position. It will be seen thatthe member 26 consists of two pairs of slotted guides, one pair beingenumerated 28 and the other 29 (see Figure 9). These are connected bythe open portion 38 which is designed to receive the stiifened edge ofthe saw which would enter through the aperture 3| best seen in thaccompanying Figure 9 while the blade itself would move in the slot 32.The member 29, being of the same configuration, it will not be definedin detail, being clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 4.

It is necessary to provide means whereby my saw holder can be maintainedin the elevated position of Figure 1 when not in use and for this reasonI provide the details best illustrated in the accompanying Figures 1, 3,and 11 from which it will be seen that a rod 33 right-angled at thefront end thereof as at 34 (Figure 9) is held in brackets 35 and 36 atthe ends of sawholder. The rear end of the rod is angulated at 37 in thesame direction as the portion 34 while the extreme end is angulatedagain back into the direction of the rod itself as at 31. A spring 38 isconnected between the saw-holder and a, projection 39 suitably connectedto the rod and normally the end 34 of the rod is horizontal asillustrated in the accompanying Figure 9.

Secured alongside the link [9 is a latch 40, the end 4! of the latchbeing designed to engage a notch 42 in one of the bearing heads l8. Theopposite end of the latch is provided with an eye 43 of theconfiguration best illustrated in the accompanying Figures 3 and 11through which the end 37 of the rod 33 is designed to extend. The spring44 is designed to urge the latch in th direction of the arrow 45 (out ofengagement with the notch 42).

When the saw-holder is lowered as in the position shown in theaccompanying Figure 6, the end 39 of the rod is separated from the eye43 and it only enters the eye when the saw-holder is in the elevatedposition of Figure 1. Then, upon rotation of the rod via the end piece34 (Figure 9) in the direction of the arrow 45, the end portion 31rotates similarly in the eye 43 and passes the latch downwardly againstthe resistance of the spring 44 into the notch 42. The latch is held insuch position, and similarly, the rod 33 is prevented from rotatingbackwardly again by the spring 33 which will be slightly beyond deadcentre because of the small U-shaped link 46 which divides the springinto two parts and enables it to straddle the rod 33.

In the accompanying Figure 2 it will be seen that I have provided amember 4! which is secured to one corner of the deck I by means of awing-nut 48. This member is provided with an elongated slot 49 so thatit can be adjusted into many position in the one plane by means of the-the wing-nut 13 which projects wing-nut and the member terminates inthe projecting portion 50 to provide a very useful accessory at each endof the deck for holding a piece of material in place on the deck.

Finally, in connection with the first embodiment of my invention I woulddraw attention to the gauge rod 5i which is secured by means of thewing-nut 52 (Figure 5) to the post 3 and can move within the limits ofthe slot 53 in a single vertical plane. The upper end 55 of this memberis designed to bear against the portion 33 of my saw-holder, just alittle to one side of the position occupied by the saw blade. By its useI am able to limit the depth of a cut in a piece of wood being formed,since it is well known that it is not always desired to out completelythrough a piece of wood but sometimes only a certain depth.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying Figures 12 to 21, it will be seen that here my machine issomewhat simplified over the first embodiment but has certain limits inits movement. This embodiment comprises the same deck l, legs 2 and rearwall 3 and also has a similar notched quadrant l0 although the remainingparts differ as I will now proceed to explain.

The post 55 of this embodiment is secured at its lower end to the radiusarm 53, the radius arm being journalled in a stud 57 which extendsthrough the deck in the projecting portion 58 thereof between the sidesof opening 39 (Figure 18). The post is provided with a slot 66 right tothe top end thereof.

Upon each side of the post and at right angles to the plane of the slotare tracks 6| to act as keyways for a pair of diametrically opposed keys62 projecting inwardly from a sleeve 63, these keys preventing thesleeve from rotating without the post. Projecting forwardly from thesleeve is my saw-holder 64 having a downwardly projecting saw-bladeguide 65 of the configuration clearly illustrated in the accompanyingFigure 19, and a rear guide 36 integral with the sleeve 53 and bestillustrated in the accompanying Figures 12, 13, 14.- and 17 from whichit will be seen that the slot 61 of the guide is constantly in alignmentwith the slot Bil in the post 55.

The sleeve is prevented from lifting out of the post by means of the cap33 and in this embodiment also I provide a gauge 63 to serve the samepurpose as the member 5i in the first embodiment of my invention, or inother words, to limit the depth of a saw cut in a piece of wood-on thedeck I, this gauge consisting of a strip of metal 10 angulated inwardlyas at 'H to bear against the surface 12 (see Figure 13).

The piece of metal iii is adjusted by means of outwardly through oneside of the sleeve 63 and in this way I am able to provide a simplifiedand peculiarly effective gauge for the purpose just described.

To maintain my saw-holder in the elevated position of Figure 12, it willbe seen that I provide the rod 14 which is positioned in bearings 15 andI6 on the saw-holder. A finger-loop 11 is provided at one end of the rodwhile the rear end 18 is double-angulated so that the extreme endthereof 19 will act as a hook on the cap 68.

The detail for holding my radius arm 66 in the various notches of thequadrant I!) is best illustrated in the accompanying Figures 20 and 21,the detail being substantially similar to that of my first embodiment(Figures '7 and 8) and will be seen to consist of the pointedtrigger-teeth 80 and the finger-teeth 8| together with a downwardlyprojecting buttress 82 designed to bear against a spring 83 situated inthe recess 84, the trigger being held in place by the plate 85 which maybe screwed down to the radius arm on either side of the trigger.

Since many modifications can be made in th invention herein describedand since the accompanying drawings have been prepared only toillustrate the relative arrangement and interaction of parts and notwith regard to accuracy of dimensions for manufacturing purposes whichin view of this disclosure I consider to entail merely mechanical skilltogether with the skill of the mechanical draftsman, and since manyapparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention may be madewithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from thespirit and scope of the same it is intended that all matter contained inthe accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not in a limiting sense and I desire only such limitations placedthereon as justice dictates.

What I claim as my invention is:

A miter box characterized by having a deck and an upstanding rear wall,a post slotted in a vertical plane, said post being journalled at therear of said wall, a slotted link rotatably connected to the upper endof said post by means of two pairs of bearings separated from each otherby the width of said slot so that said slot extends uninterruptedlybetween said post and said link, a saw holder pivotally connected at theupper end of said link, said saw holder normally extending forwardlyover said deck, said post and said saw holder rotating as a unit in a,horizontal plane, said saw holder and said link being rotatable in avertical plane, means for maintaining said saw holder in an elevatedposition, comprising a cranked rod journalled for rotation on saidholder and extending parallel therewith, a longitudinally movable latchsecured to said link and extending longitudinally therewith, said rodengaging said latch when said holder is in elevated position, and beingcapable of moving the same longitudinally into engagement with a recessin one of said posts.

CHARLES FRANCIS MILLS.

